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Southland Times, Issue 3311, 30 January 1879, Page 2

The annual meeting of the Hospital subscribers last night was one of the best, of its kind ever hold in this.town, and disclosed that there was at ..least one bharitable institution in; the colqny which could pay its way and maintain a- good balance on the right side of the ledger. A very pleasing duty devolved' upon the Committee in reporting as they did. to the subscribers, and to the * committee is due a great deal of credit in having conducted the affairs of the ""Hospital . to such a satisfactory annual conclusion,; and this too in the face of increased pressure upon the resources of the institution. _ Seventy-nine in-door and 307 out-door patients were treated in excess of the number of the previous year. The support accorded io the Hospital was. on the whole, liberal ; albeit, more regular subscribei-s would be an advantage b3'increasing the permanent income, for the public should bear in mind that a one pound subscription is really two pounds to the Hospital,' the Government subsidising^ pound- for pound. It is to be regretted that the nieetjiig last night was but sparsely attended'. Alt matters .connected with the Hospital ought to excite genuine and lively interest sufficient, to induce every subscriber to be ready, if called upon, .to take part in conducting Hospital affairs. This is a duty owing to society, and, moreover, the infusion of new Wood in the case of the committee is both expedient and desirable. The argument so often advanced in favor of rewarding good services by exacting 1 fresh ones is not sound, for it does not tend to promote the education of the people in conducting .public affairs. Every year so many of .the Committee of Management of Hospitals, and all other kindred institutions, should retire by rotation and not be eligible for re-election that year at least. It is not conducive . to good management to place 1 it in the hands of a per maient board, for ideas thereby become stereotyped and progressive improvement is retarded. However, it is our desire on this occasion to be congratulatory- rather than censorious. The Hospital is in a flourishing condition and it enters upon another year with excellent prospects of; good maintenance. Thanks were never more deserved than those bestowed by the meeting upon the committee of last year. The members, save two who retired, were again re-elected.